The city of Albany continued its transition to an appointed city attorney this week when a subcommittee of the city council presented a report at the council’s meeting on Monday showing a range of options.

The subcommittee consisted of council members Robert Lieber and Peggy Thomsen as well as City Attorney Robert Zweben, who will retire at the end of the year, and City Manager Beth Pollard.

“We’re going to move forward and put out a request for qualifications,” Lieber said. “We’re really looking for somebody with a good fit for the city. We’ve been really lucky to have a person who was in touch with the city’s heart as it were.”

The report listed several preferred qualifications and requirements for the new city attorney. They include at least five years’ experience in California Municipal law and current knowledge of public agency law; ability to determine when specialized legal counsel is needed; securing services of special outside counsel; and being accessible to city staff and elected officials.

Zweben has been the elected city attorney for 32 years. Last November, Albany residents approved Measure N, which changed the city attorney from an elected to an appointed post. Zweben won a one-year term to allow for a transition to the new process.

The subcommittee report explored what other Bay Area cities use for various legal services and how much they cost. Some cities hire a law firm to handle legal services while others appoint a full- or part-time salaried attorney.

“We’re really looking, I think hopefully, for an attorney that takes a part-time position with the city rather than a firm,” Lieber said. “Somebody who is willing to work with citizens rather than somebody who is pounding on a clock when somebody calls with a question. That doesn’t rule out a law firm because they may be able to offer us something too.”

Catherine Engberg, an attorney at the law firm of Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger, called for the council to consider hiring a contract attorney rather than a staff attorney. She said she has worked with the city before on land use matters.

“I do hope the city does decide to go with a contract attorney,” the Kensington resident said. “I think there are benefits to that approach with the ability to ramp up and ramp down as workload fluctuates. I do think there are ways to contain costs. “… Lieber said either way, the city will probably end up paying more than it does now. However, keeping the costs down is a priority.”

The subcommittee will begin drafting a request for qualifications but will probably bring that to the entire council for approval before sending it out. Lieber said he hopes the hiring process will begin fairly soon.

“We have to replace our city attorney by December, 2011,” he said. “So that’s our timetable.”

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